Finding Your Dog A Playmate!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Saw this article on Dogster.com today and thought it was interesting so thought I would share.

http://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dog-training-behavior-4-tips-findi...

[DJ & Chance]

This strand is interesting.  Chance exhibits all of these play styles from time to time, but I think "the tackler" probably is his dominant style.  For a little guy, he can throw quite a body block!  It will be interesting see if maturity changes his play style preferences.

[Christine & Shelby]

I would classify Shelby as a specialist in Wrestling and she dabbles in Chasing just to give herself a bit of variety!

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna loves to wrestle/tackle but ONLY with dogs she knows very well.  Otherwise she is only interested in being chased and only if the dog is similarly sized or smaller than her.  She is easily intimidated by big dogs that she doesn't know and is very cautious around them.

That being said when she does know a dog well she plays VERY hard.  When she's playing with her best friend (a spaniel mix about half Luna's size) they sound as if they are starting a war...but we know they're just having a great time and know their limits!  They've been friends since Luna was 12 weeks old.

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Bender loves to be CHASED!  he will run out into the yard with so much enthusiasm thinking Zoe is right behind him chasing him and he will look back and realize she isn't there and is like "hey...where did she go".  But by the time he realizes she's not there he already ran 2 laps around the yard!

Zoe likes to tug on ropes but always lets go as soon as Ben wants it.  I think she spoiled him because he was a baby before but now she gets really angry and doesn't let go and they play tug-a-war.   It's pretty cute.

They both wrestle in the grass and run inside every morning.  They leave a trail of grass in my house :(

[Christine & Camus]

Camus will engage in all 4 playstyles, although he does not play with all dogs.  He seems to be particular.  When he does meet a dog and begins to play he tailors his play to the other dog and as Karen pointed out the "3 is a crowd advice" is something I need to be aware of at all times.  Camus does not like to share his playmate.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

As I'm reading this comment about "3 is a crowd" I'm just now thinking that this could be why we had so many problems when I was fostering and when my SIL's dog stayed with us.  I guess the answer must be I need to foster or puppy for for two more so I even things out!  lol.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks for sharing this Sherri.  It's interesting. Finn is a tackler, chaser, chasee, and a happy wrestler with dogs his own size, alternating between between dominance and submission.  He's cooperative and gentle with smaller dogs.  He's not a big fan of dogs that are bigger than he is (unless they're doodles) and some dogs he won't play with at all.  I figure he knows something I don't.  As happy go lucky as he is, he's happiest with 1 playmate at a time. Too many dogs easily overwhelm him so we avoid dog parks but I'm curious how he'd do at a doodle romp.